tin ear

noun

: a deafened or insensitive ear

Examples of tin ear in a Sentence

My wife is a talented musician, but I have a tin ear.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Beijing’s tin ear results from Chinese officials and diplomats living in their own propaganda bubbles and echo chambers, unattuned to how China is viewed in the region. David Shambaugh, Foreign Affairs, 17 Dec. 2020 In most public appearances, Sunak comes across as a technocrat; a management consultant with a tin ear, whose jokes, banter and attempts to connect to ordinary voters fall flat. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 24 May 2024 Since then the Alabama inventors have gone a long way toward making Rin Tin's tin ear a thing of the past. Jeffrey Kluger, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 There was a time when all-powerful media titans showed a tin ear towards creativity. Time, 28 July 2023 Most commentary has focused on the foot faults of former CEO Bob Chapek, who had a tin ear for the concerns of employees, board members, political partners, customers, and just about everyone else. Jackson Fordyce, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2023 Benedict was said to have a tin ear for politics. Rachel Donadio, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2022 Like icebergs against climate change, raindrops against asphalt, Rachmaninoff against a tin ear. oregonlive, 3 Sep. 2022 But throughout the lengthy process, Clinton continually demonstrated a tin ear about Russia’s concerns for its security and prestige. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 27 June 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tin ear was in 1935

Dictionary Entries Near tin ear

Cite this Entry

“Tin ear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tin%20ear. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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